How long is the commute from Clear Lake, IA?

Name: Commute and cars in Clear Lake, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in Clear Lake, IA take an average of 18.6 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

79.3% of workers drive alone to work.

1.2% take public transportation.

2.4% of workers walk to work.

10.2% work from home.

6.4% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 18.6 minutes (±2.0)
Public transportation: 1.2%
Work from home: 10.2%
Households without a car: 6.4%

How people in Clear Lake get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	Clear Lake	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
Drove alone	79.3% (±4.1 points)	80.1%	76.0%	68.8%
Carpooled	6.0% (±2.5 points)	7.6%	7.8%	8.5%
Public transportation	1.2% (±1.1 points)	0.8%	0.7%	3.2%
Walked	2.4% (±1.7 points)	3.3%	2.9%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	0.8% (±1.2 points)	1.0%	1.4%	2.0%
Worked from home	10.2% (±3.9 points)	7.2%	11.3%	15.1%

In Clear Lake, the average commute is higher than in Cerro Gordo County (15.6 minutes).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (19.8 minutes).

It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In Clear Lake, the share commuting by public transportation is not measurably different from Cerro Gordo County (0.8%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (0.7%).

It is lower than the national figure (3.2%).

In Cerro Gordo County, Clear Lake ranks 9 of 10 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 706 of 918.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in Clear Lake

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	Clear Lake	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
No vehicle	6.4% (±2.8 points)	5.0%	5.4%	8.4%
1 vehicle	28.2% (±5.3 points)	32.7%	30.5%	33.1%
2 vehicles	42.1% (±5.8 points)	41.2%	37.8%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	23.2% (±4.5 points)	21.0%	26.3%	21.9%

In Clear Lake, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from Cerro Gordo County (5.0%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (5.4%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in Clear Lake

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Clear Lake	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
Workers working from home	10.2% (±3.9 points)	7.2% (±1.3 points)	11.3% (±0.2 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	92.7% (±2.5 points)	94.7% (±1.2 points)	94.7% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	89.0% (±2.2 points)	89.2% (±1.4 points)	88.9% (±0.2 points)	91.0%

In Clear Lake, the share of households with a broadband subscription is not measurably different from Cerro Gordo County (89.2%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (88.9%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near Clear Lake

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Clear Lake
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
Clear Lake	—	18.6 minutes (±2.0)	—
Ventura	4.7 mi	21.8 minutes (±4.5)	Not measurably different
Mason City	8.8 mi	13.5 minutes (±1.1)	Lower
Fertile	9.1 mi	27.0 minutes (±5.0)	Higher
Hanlontown	10 mi	21.4 minutes (±3.3)	Not measurably different
Swaledale	11 mi	23.5 minutes (±6.2)	Not measurably different
Garner	12 mi	11.0 minutes (±2.3)	Lower
Thornton	13 mi	25.2 minutes (±3.3)	Higher
Manly	14 mi	20.4 minutes (±2.1)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Mason City, IA (13.5 minutes), Garner, IA (11.0 minutes).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Fertile, IA (27.0 minutes), Thornton, IA (25.2 minutes).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Average commute across Cerro Gordo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
3	Swaledale	23.5 minutes (±6.2)
4 (tie)	Dougherty	21.9 minutes (±4.7)
4 (tie)	Plymouth	21.9 minutes (±1.7)
6	Ventura	21.8 minutes (±4.5)
7	Rock Falls	19.9 minutes (±2.2)
8	Rockwell	19.5 minutes (±3.4)
9	Clear Lake	18.6 minutes (±2.0)
10	Mason City	13.5 minutes (±1.1)

Showing 8 of 10 places in Cerro Gordo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Clear Lake

How long is the average commute in Clear Lake?

Workers who live in Clear Lake, IA take an average of 18.6 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in Clear Lake without a car?

6.4% of households in Clear Lake have no vehicle, and 1.2% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in Clear Lake?

10.2% (±3.9 points) of workers who live in Clear Lake worked from home, and 89.0% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Clear Lake city, Iowa (place:14025, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.